EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CRUELTY FREE MAKEUP

August 23, 2017

It is heartbreaking to think about the cruelty that some animals face just for the sake of makeup and money. It is my dream to help raise awareness about any form of animal cruelty that goes on in many countries around the world. In today’s post, I will help you distinguish and recognize the brands that are not cruelty free and also offer you a list of brands that are 100% cruelty free. I truly believe that there has been enough testing already and these companies should know what products are harmful to humans by now!

What Does Cruelty Free Mean?

Cruelty free only applies to makeup products that are NOT tested on any animals anywhere in the world.

*Any company that makes products in China tests on animals.

How Do You Know if a Brand is Cruelty Free?

I like to use Logical Harmony and Cruelty Free Kitty to research if a product is safe to use. Both websites will offer long lists of products that do not test on animals and also products that are not cruelty free. Beware that some products that once were cruelty free are no longer cruelty free. Make sure you do your own research by visiting the brand’s website. If the site does not have any information on this crucial information then you should e-mail the brand to find out! If the brand states that there are exceptions, that means they are NOT cruelty free! If their FAQ states that they do not test on animals but they manufacture some products in China, that means they DO test on animals.

Pay Attention to the Logos!

When you’re shopping in stores, look for the 3 logos below — and only these.

However, always remember that a company can be cruelty-free even without displaying any logo, so make sure to do your research!

Let’s start buying more cruelty free products so that companies stop investing their time and money into testing on animals! If you are not convinced yet, over 100 million animals in the United States alone are tortured and killed for animal testing.

For cosmetics tests, most animals used are bunnies, guinea pigs, mice, and rats. They often die from the experiments.

Dogs are often used in medical research. They’re subjected to particularily invasive tests for cardiology, endocrinology, and bone studies. In 2013, 67,772 dogs were used in research in the United States.

Cats are often used in neurological studies. Half of the tests cats are subjected to can “cause pain or distress”. In 2013, 24,221 cats were used in research in the United States.

Non-human primates, especially macaques but also monkeys, baboons, and chimpanzees, are used in a multitude of experiments. They take part in toxicology, AIDS, hepatitis, reproduction, and xenotransplantation tests among others. Over 70,000 non-human primates are subjected to tests every year in the United States and European Union.

There’s nothing that justifies animal testing in the 21st century. It’s a cruel and outdated practice that’s not only unethical but also unnecessary.

If enough of us purchase from cruelty-free brands and boycott those that test on animals, it means things are going to change. If L’Oreal did their market research today and 98% of those interviewed claimed that they would never buy a product that was tested on animals, L’Oreal would reconsider their position. Hard. Because they want to sell their products. That’s all that matters to a big business!

What Else Can You Do to Help?

Sign Petitions

The first petition I would urge everyone to sign is the Petition to Pass the Humane Cosmetics Act. This means that a ban could be issued on animal testing for cosmetics in the United States. Whether or not you live in the U.S., please sign this petition. Passing this bill would be a huge victory!

I also urge you to sign this petition, geared towards L’Oreal to Stop Animal Testing. It’s getting good traction. Keep in mind that although L’Oreal reduced its animal testing in recent years, the company still refuses to go 100% cruelty-free.

Learn

The Dodo is an awesome news site dedicated to animal rights and animal welfare. It’s also filled with informative posts.

One Green Planet is exactly what the name implies: everything good for the planet and eco-friendly, and this includes animal welfare. This is one of my favorite sites.

Humane Society International is an amazing organization working toward the end of animal testing worldwide. I have tremendous respect for this organization and they’re achieving a ton of great things! Please support them!

Join Campaigns

Be Cruelty-Free is Humane Society International’s campaign to end animal testing. You can sign the pledge and participate in their projects.

Cruelty-Free International is a worldwide organization working against animal testing. You can help them out in a number of ways — all listed on their site!

I hope this post helped clear up some things about animal testing! I appreciate all of the support and wish you the best of luck on your cruelty free journey!